NEWTOWNABBEY Sevens clinched the Ballymena and Provincial League Division Two title this week with a dramatic win over FC Larne at Threemile Water.
The Sevens ended Larne's title ambitions in emphatic style with goals from Rab Steele, Dave Ramsey (2) and substitute Sammy Chambers.
Prior to this game FC Larne had gone the season unbeaten but had recently dropped vital points in draws with Chimney Corner Reserves and Desertmartin Swifts, allowing the Sevens back into the championship race. They came into the game knowing that a point would be good enough for them to win the league, but John Gillespie's side had other ideas.
Unbeaten at home, the Sevens boasted one of the best defences in the league. And the Larne men just couldn't break down the stubborn back line marshalled by Stephen Dallas who stood in as captain in the absence of the suspended Graham Bennett.
The home side got off to a great start when the brilliant Ramsey fed the ball to his strike partner Ricky Currie down the left channel. Currie whipped in a wonderful ball with the outside of his right foot for the unmarked Steele to net at the back post after eighteen minutes.
Just twelve minutes later the Sevens doubled their advantage when Ramsey headed in at the near post from a Steele corner.
FC Larne hit back on the stroke of half-time when Steven Morton scored directly from a corner to get his side back into the game.
The second half was a cagey affair with both teams creating chances. David Jenkins went close for Larne and the Sevens wasted a string of good opportunities.
The turning point in the game came with just six minutes left to play when Sevens midfielder Paul Moffatt played a delightful ball through to Ramsey who scored with a clinical finish past FC Larne's keeper David Sluman.
After that it was party time at Threemile.
Deep into injury time it was Moffatt who turned creator again. He moved his way through the Larne defence to square the ball to Sammy Chambers who smashed it into the top corner to claim his side's fourth and final goal.
Speaking after the game Newtownabbey Sevens' manager John Gillespie said: "I'm delighted with the team's performance. Considering we were without our first choice keeper, our top scorer and our captain in such an important game, it's a wonderful achievement. I kept telling the lads that the league is a marathon, not a sprint. We proved we are the best team in the division.
"We have quality players in every position and the team spirit is second to none. At the end of the campaign the league table doesn't lie and we thoroughly deserve to be champions."
N'abbey Sevens (sponsored by Eastside Fuels): S. Steele - Thompson, Dallas (c), Newburn, Smyth - R. Steele, Gowdy, Moffatt, Connor - Ramsey, Currie. Subs: Boyle, S. Chambers, M. McAlister.